With the debut of the adidas Karintha, Wales Bonner moves beyond archival adidas reworks and into original design territory. After five years of reworking archival sneakers, she now introduces an original design that moves beyond past silhouettes. While earlier releases transformed classics like the Samba and SL72, the Karintha stands apart, rooted in adidas DNA but shaped entirely by Bonner’s distinct rhythm.
SNEAKERS
The adidas Karintha draws inspiration from the past without retracing it. The wavy, low-profile sole gives a nod to the adidas Tokyo, while the T-shaped toe box recalls the familiar Samba structure. Still, this isn’t a remix, it’s a new model, one that introduces a different pace to the collaboration.
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Bonner sets the tone for the Karintha’s debut with contrast. The first version arrives in soft brown suede with perforated stripes, minimal and understated. The second comes drenched in sequins, shimmering in metallic tones that catch the light and shift with every movement. The two pairs sit at opposite ends of the design spectrum: one muted, the other theatrical.
The release doesn’t stop with the Karintha. Alongside the new model, adidas and Wales Bonner bring back the recently introduced suede Superstar Hi, a high-cut take on the classic silhouette. The capsule also features Adilette slides with a woven upper, offering a more tactile, textured update to the classic summer staple. These footwear pieces come with a full set of apparel, ranging from breezy knits to relaxed three-quarter length shorts. Everything feels ready-made for movement and ease, just in time for the season ahead.
Wales Bonner began her adidas collaboration in 2020 and quickly made waves in the sneaker space. Her approach turned heads early on, especially through the Samba, a once-overlooked style she helped transform into a streetwear mainstay. Crochet laces, fold-over tongues, and luxe materials gave the Samba a new identity, and fashion followed. Today, it’s hard to separate the shoe’s resurgence from Bonner’s influence.
Where previous collaborations refined existing forms, the Karintha starts fresh. Yet even in its newness, the design carries a trace of adidas history, leaning into structure and familiarity while introducing details that feel unmistakably Bonner. Her continued use of texture and visual rhythm ties this release to the rest of her adidas work, but this time, she builds on a clean slate.
The adidas x Wales Bonner Spring Summer 2025 collection, including the Karintha and its counterpart pieces, drops May 28. Select items will be available through the Highsnobiety Shop, with a wider release following through adidas and global retailers.
